Electrical remote control for gas



April 29, 1 5 R. J. SCHAEFER ELECTRICAL REMOTE CONTROL FOR GAS BURNERS 2 Sl-lEETS Sl-1EET 1 Filed March 15, 1947 w rfiws e N M? l 9 MM w i 4 J a ,r w b m H Y, 9 B m ,J m

AUTOMATIC g h kr April 29, 1952 ELECTRICAL REMOTE CONTROL FOR GAS BURNERS Filed March 15, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 F AUTOMATIC I INV ENTOR .4 Richard J Jc/Me/er l BY ATTO R NE Y5 R. J. SCHAEFER 2,595,171

Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL REMOTE CONTROL FOR GAS BURNERS 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrical remote control for a gas burner.

It is the object of this invention to produce a remote control for a gas burner which is of simple structure, reliable and efiicient in operation and which permits a gas burner, for example, the gas burner of a domestic hot water heater, to be controlled from any part of the house.

Fig. 1 is a schematic or diagrammatic showing of my electrical control circuit.

Fig. 2 is a detail showing of the control valve.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of a modified form of my electrical control circuit. 7

The parts of my electrical control system are as follows: gas burner I, gas control valve assembly 2, gas supply line 3, gas pilot light or pilot generator l, pilot light gas supply line 5, thermoe couples in series 6 positioned so that the pilot flame will play upon the thermo-couples, wire I connecting one of the cold ends of thermo-couples 6 with one of the ends of electromagnet coil 8, wire 9 connecting the other cold end of thermocouples 6 with rotary switch arm I0, wire II connecting the other end of magnet coil 8 with rotary switch contacts I2, wire I3 connecting contacts I2 in parallel, wire I4 connecting wire I3- with adjustable resistance or rheostat I5, contacts I6 and II, wire I8 connecting contacts I6 and IL.

wire I9 connecting contact I1 with adjustable resistance I5, bimetal thermostat 20 connected into line II. Thermostat 20 will be mounted on the hot water tank or immersed in the tank so that it is in thermal exchange, relation with the liquid or fluid being heated. If the gas burner I is utilized in a space heater for heating the ambient air, then thermostat 20 will be located in thermal with the inlet jet 25. The lower end of armature 22 serves as a valve for closing jets 25 and 21. When jet 25 is closed, vent jet. 2'! is open which relieves the gas pressure from the upper diaphragm chamber 31 through line 28 to atmosphere. Since the pressure below diaphragm 29 now exceeds the pressure above the diaphragm, the diaphragm is forced upward opening the main valve port 36 and allows the gas to flow to the burner, as shown in Fig. 2. As long as magnet 8 is energized, that valve 38 will remain open. When the electrical circuit is broken by thermostat 2!! the magnet releases the armature and spring 24 moves the armature counterclockwise thus closing vent jet 2'! and opening inlet jet 25. This allows the pressure above and below the diaphragm to equalize and when these pressures become equal the weight of the diaphragm valv 38 moves the diaphragm assembly and valve 38 downward on to seat 30 closin off the fiow of gas through port 36.

If there is no current flowing through magnet 8, then spring 24 moves armature 22 counterclockwise to close vent 21 and open inlet jet 25 which permits the gas from the line 3 to flow through passageway 26 and jet 25 into chamber exchange with the air in the room or space being heated.

The parts of control valve 2 are as follows: armature 22 which acts as valve for controlling orifices 25 and 27, fulcrum 23, compression spring 24, inlet jet 25, inlet passageway 26, vent jet 21, vent tube 28 to atmosphere, main diaphragm 29, valve seat 36, gas supply pipe line 3| to burner I.

A normally open push button switch 3| is connected. by wires 32 and 33 to wires 9 and II at 34 and 35 respectively.

The current for energizing magnet coil 8 is obtained from the thermo-coupl-es 6. As shown in Fig. 2, control valve 2 is open and gas is flowing from the main supply line 3 through port 36 and line SI to burner l To open valve 2 current generated by thermo-couples 6 is applied to coil 8 which attracts the armature 22 and brings the lower end of the armature into closing contact with contact I1.

31. As described above, this equalizes the pressure above and below diaphragm 29 and closes valve 38.

When my remote control is used for a gas water heater, then thermostat 20 is preferably adjustably mounted upon the outside of thewater tank from about one-third to one-half way down from the top of the tank. Gas burner I will usually be located in the basement remote from the rotary switch which will usually be located in the kitchen. The rotary switch has three positions; namely, off position when switch arm I9 is in contact with contact I6, automatic position when switch arm I I) is in contact with any of contacts I 2, and manual position when switch arm I0 is in contact My rotary switch is a makebefore-break type, that is, when switch arm I0 is rotated from one contact I2 to another or from the right hand contact I2 to contact I'I, it will make or complete the circuit with the one contact before it breaks the circuit with the other contact. When switch arm I0 is swung from contact I2 into contact with contact I6, it will break the circuit as it leaves contact I 2 before it makes contact with, and completes the circuit through, contact I6.

It is well known that the amount of power required to move the armature 'of a magnet varies as the square of the distance between-the arma- *ture and the magnet. Thus, it take much less current to hold armature 22' against core 48 of magnet S than it will to pivot armature 22 clockwise from the the position wherein armature 22 is closing vent 21. In other words, solenoid 8 will take much less power to hold valve 38 open than it will to open valve 38 from closed position.

When rotary switch arm I is in contact with any of the contacts I2, then full voltage is applied to solenoid 8 and diaphragm valve 38 will open. The circuit in such case will consist of wire 9, thermo-couples 6, wires 1, I I, thermostat 29, contact I2 and arm I6. Gas will flow to burner I as long as thermostat 20 calls for heat and closes the circuit. If thermostat 26 does not call for heat, it will then open, break the circuit and shut off burner I.

If switch arm I8 is swung to manual position, that is, in contact with contact ll, then resistance I5 is placed in circuit with the thermocouples and in series with solenoid 8. The resistance I5 is so adjusted as to cause the solenoid '8 to hold the armature against the magnet and thus cause valve38 to open and remain open, but if armature 22 has closed vent 21 and valve 38 is closed, then there will not be enough power in the circuit due to resistance I5 to permit solenoid 8 to attract and swing armature 22 to open vent 21 and close valve 38. In other words, when rotary switch III is in manual position, resistor I5 is in circuit so only partial voltage is applied to electromagnet 8. In this condition the circuit will hold valve 38 closed when it is closed and magnet 8 has insufficient power to close valve 38 if the valve is open.

When switch It is in manual position, that is, in contact with contact IT and burner I is on, then burner I will not shut off, that is, valve 38 will not close until thermostat 2B breaks the circuit. However, if thermostat 2!] again closes, the burner will not go on because, due to resistance I5 in the circuit, magnet 8 will not have enough power to attract armature 22 and again open valve 38.

If switch arm I8 is swung from contact I2 to oh position, the circuit will be broken momentarily thereby closing valve 38 and when switch arm I0 contacts contact It the valve 38 will not open because resistor I5 will again be in series with magnet S and thermo-couples 6 and armature 22 will be away from magnet 8.

In either off or manual position the closing of push button switch 3! will apply full voltage to electromagnet 8 and open valve 38 thereby turning on the burner. Thus, by looking at the rotary switch one can always tell what position the circuit is in and no tell-tale light is necessary.

When the user places the switch in automatic position, burner i will turn on whenever thermostat 23 calls for heat and burner I will turn off when thremostat 26 opens and does not call for heat. In other words, the burner will be controlled automatically by thermostat 20.

When the switch is placed in manual position burner I is ignited and continues to burn until the thermostat opens the circuit and shuts the burner ofi. The burner will not turn on again until the switch is moved to automatic position. Manual position eliminates the necessity of having to worry about shutting oil the water heater if limited amount of hot water is desired.

In the modification shown inFig. 3 the rotary switch is the same as in the principal form of the invention except that resistance I5 is omitted. Power is obtained from a 110 volt line 5B through transformer 5I. The secondary coil of the transformer is connected to rotary switch arm II] by wire 52 and to solenoid 53 by wire 54. A thermostat 55 is positioned in line 5%. The solenoid coil 53 is connected by wire 56 with wire I3. Valve 5?, which controls port 35, is mounted on solenoid core 58. A movable contact 59 is mounted on the upper end of solenoid core 58 and is connected by wire 68 with wire 55 between coil 53 and the rotary switch. Wire GI connects stationary contact 62 with manual contact I'I.

As shown, the control circuit is set for automatic operation. As long as the thermostat 55 is closed and calls for heat, current will flow through line 52, switch arm i0, contact I2, wire i3, line 55, solenoid 53, line 54 and through the thermostat back to the secondary coil. Solenoid 53 will be energized and valve 57 will be open. If thermostat 55 is satisfied and opens the circuit, then solenoid 53 will be deenergized and valve 57 will close port 35 shutting off the gas to the burner. If rotary switch I9 is now moved to manual position, it will make the circuit through contact i1 before it breaks contact with contact I2. The circuit now will be from the secondary coil line 52, switch arm i3, contact I l, line 6! through contacts 62 and 59, line 68, coil 53, line 54 and thermostat 55. If, like in the principal form of the invention, thermostatic switch 55 breaks the circuit, coil 33 will be deenergized and valve 5'! will close and contacts 59 and 62 will be disengaged. If the thermostat 55 again closes valve 5? will not open because the break between contacts 59 and 62 will prevent current from flowing through solenoid 53.

If rotary switch arm H3 is swung counterclockwise to off position, it will break the circuit from passing from the left hand contact I2 to ofi contact I6. Hence, if solenoid 53 is energized at the time the switch is thrown to ofi position, the solenoid will be deenergized and valve 51 will close. Valve 57 will close regardless of whether thermostat 55 is closed or open whenever switch I0 is moved to off position.

I claim:

1. In combination a gas burner adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure, an electromagnetically controlled valve for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, a source of electricity in series with said electromagnetic valve, and a manual switch in circuit with said source of electricity, a thermostatic switch in series circuit with said manual switch and source of electricity, said manualswitch having at least two positions, a resistance adapted to be placed in series circuit with said source of electricity, thermostatic switch, and valve when the manual switch is in one of its positions whereby only partial voltage from said source of electricity will be applied to said electromagnetic valve, the electromagnetic valve being constructed and arranged so that when said partial voltage is applied thereto the valve will remain open if open and will not open if closed, said manual switch in the other position shunting out said resistance so that said valve will be opened and closed in response to the opening and closing of said thermostatic switch.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manual switch is a rotary switch of the make-before-hreak type so that the switch in passing from one position to another will make the circuit through said resistance before it breaks the circuit wherein the current is shunted around said resistance.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 ineluding a push button type of switch in parallel with said rotary switch whereby closing of said push button switch while said thermostatic switch is closed causes full voltage to be applied to' said electromagnetic valve and open the same even when said rotary valve is positioned so that the resistance is in series with said source of electricity.

4. In combination a gas burner adapted to be connected to a sourceiof gas under pressure; a valve between said gas burner and source of gas. means including an electromagnet and armature for opening and closing} said gas valve, a source'of current and a thermostatic switch in series", circuit with said electromagnet, a manual two'position switch in said circuit, a resistance adapted to be placed in series circuit with said source of current, thermostati witch, and electromagnet when the manual swit ''s in one position w'iereby only part of the v tage from said source of electricity is impressedupon said electromagnet when the thermostatic switch is closed, the said manual switch in the-other position cutting out said resistance and impressing the full voltage from said source of electricity upon said electromagnet when said thermostatic switch is closed, said armature being coordinated with the power of said electromagnet whereby when thearmature is away from said electromagnet and" full voltage is applied to said magnet the armature will be drawn to said'inagnet and the gasivalve will open and when said part of said voltage is applied to the magnet the armature will remain in its said position away from the magnet and the valve will remain closed.

5. In combination a gas burner adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure, a valve controlling the'fiow of gas to the burner, an electromagnet having an armature arranged to open and close said valve when said electromagnet is energized and jdeenergized, respectively, a

source of electricity, a rotary switch in series with said electromagnet and source of electricity, a thermostatic switchin said circuit, said rotary switch being of the make-before-break type and having an automatic operation contactand a manual operation contact and being shiftable to corresponding automatic and manual positions, the automatic operation contact beingin'series circuit with the electromagnet, thermostatic switch and source of 'electricity when said-rotary switch is in automaticf'position whereby the thermostatic switch controls the flow oft-current through said electromagnet when theg-I rotary switch is in the automatic position, the manual operation contact being in series circuit with the electromagnet, thermostatic switch and source of electricity througha resistance when the rotary switch is in manual position, the said resistance being such that whenever the thermostatic switch opens to break the circuit and close said valve,

closing of the thermostatic switch will be ineffec tive to sufliciently energize the electromagnet to reopen said valve when the rotary "switch is in manual position.

6. In combination a gas burner adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure, a valve controlling the flow of gas to the burner. an

electromagnet having an armature-arranged to open and close said valve when said 'electromagnet is energized and deenergized, respectively, a source of electricity, a rotary switch in series with said electromagnet and source of electricity, a thermostatic switch in said circuit, said rotary switch being of the make-before-break type and having an automatic operation contact and a manual operation contact and being shiftable to corresponding automatic and manual positions, the automatic operation contact being in series circuit with the electromagnet;thermostatic switch and source of electricity whep said rotary switch is in automatic position whereby the thermostatic switch controls the flow of current through said electromagnet when the rotary switch is in the automatic position, the manual operation contact being in series circuit with the electromagnet and thermostatic switch when the rotary switch is in manual position whereby when the rotary switch is shifted fromautomatic to manual position and the thermostatic switch is i closed said valve will remain openuntil the therelectricity when the rotary switch is in manual position.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means comprises a switch in series circuit with said manual operation contact, solenoid and source of electricity, said switch being closed by said solenoid when the latter is energized and opening whenever the solenoid is deenergized.

RICHARD J. SCHAEFER.

REFERENCES orrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,734,257 Kraft et al. -Nov. 5, 1929 1,828,038 Fouts Oct. 20, 1931 Ray Apr. 8, 1941 

